Well-Defined Core−Shell Carbon Black/Polypyrrole Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Abstract

The well-defined core−shell carbon black/polypyrrole (CB/PPy) nanocomposites were prepared via the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole from the surfaces of the carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, with poly(2-hydroxy-3-(methacryloyloxy) propane-1-sulfonate) (PHMAS) as both the surfactant and the dopant. The nanocomposites exhibited the high conductivity at room temperature and the weakly temperature dependence of conductivity from 283 to 423 K. When the core−shell CB/PPy nanocomposites were used as the electrode materials for the supercapacitors, the maximum discharge capacity of 366 F/g was achieved, after being corrected for the weight percentage of the PPy phase at the current density of 5 mA/cm² in 1.0 M NaNO₃ electrolyte solution.